All posts tagged Flees Iran

According to Theage.com.au, Australia could soon have its first heavy-metal refugee.

A 28-year-old man detained at Manus Island says he fled to Australia after being an underground metal drummer in Iran, where executions are ”as common as eating a piece a cake”.

He said he finally fled Iran after 60 heavy-metal fans were arrested at an unauthorised concert, and music teachers were arrested and jailed.

Restrictions on music and dancing are commonplace in Iran, where hundreds of young people have been arrested at unauthorised concerts.

”Because heavy metal is completely prohibited and illegal in Iran, and as I mentioned before because of the religion and misjudgments, it’s known as ‘Evil Music’,” the man – who asked not to be identified – wrote in a lengthy email from Manus Island.

”Government officials and the religious [authorities] who are in charge will arrest you and take you to Intelligence Department and anything can happen to you then.”

The man wrote that he abandoned his beloved drums after authorities began to increasingly target music fans.

”In an underground concert more than 60 fans were arrested, charged and locked up. Players were taken to Intelligence. Two teachers of mine were arrested also.”

He panicked. He sold his drums, moved to a new location and changed his phone number, cut ties with everyone but family and sank into depression. ”I deleted every history of my music from my life because of my fear of being arrested by the government who were intent on stopping this music. During this time six musicians that I knew were arrested in their training place. After that no one contacted each other, even on Facebook.”